Alabama vice chancellor Jo Bonner talks about his new role

University of Alabama Vice Chancellor for Government Relations and Economic Development Jo Bonner holds his first sit-down interview on Wednesday since being appointed to the position in Tuscaloosa.

Dusty Compton | The Tuscaloosa News

By Ed EnochStaff Writer | The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 11:01 p.m.

Former U.S. Congressman Jo Bonner envisions his new role as the vice chancellor for government relations and economic development at the University of Alabama System as nothing new for the system or himself.

“In many ways, I find myself doing what I have always done and that is connecting people to people,” Bonner said.

Bonner, who joined the UA System staff on Aug. 16 in the recently created vice chancellorship position, offered the example of former UA System Chancellor Malcolm Portera's involvement in the recruitment of Mercedes-Benz in the early 1990s as a template for his role in economic development.

Bonner, who resigned from the U.S. House on Aug. 2 to take the system job, said he would build on the work of Bill Jones, who retired as director of government relations for the system in the spring.

UA System Chancellor Robert Witt said Bonner's first priority will be lobbying for the system in Montgomery, but he believes the former congressman's economic development responsibilities will dovetail seamlessly with the government relations responsibilities.

Witt said the system decided to formally add economic development as a responsibility of the position following the retirement of Jones. Witt said the additional responsibilities of the new role merited an elevation from a directorship to a vice chancellorship. Bonner's annual salary will be $350,000.

Witt said Bonner, the brother of UA President Judy Bonner, had an ideal mix of skills, experience and perspective for the dual roles.

“A native son of Alabama, he knows how to advocate persuasively with elected officials and sell the merits of our state to global audiences. We are delighted to have him on board,” Witt wrote in an email.

Witt did not comment on whether other candidates for the job were considered and what qualifications the system sought in the candidates.

“Looking forward, our goal is to help Alabama continue to grow by partnering with public and private entities to attract new industry, help existing businesses flourish in the 21st century, and add new high-wage jobs,” Witt wrote in the email. “The stronger Alabama's economy becomes, the better our state will be able to support education, so it's a win-win all around.”

Bonner said he believed there was a direct correlation between the health of the system and the health of the state, adding the UA System had an approximate $5 billion impact on Alabama's economy.

Witt cast economic development as a standing interest for the system.

“Innovative and successful economic development projects are a long-standing priority for our three campuses,” Witt wrote. “Our faculty members in Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa are at the forefront of job creation, industrial recruitment and retention in wide-ranging areas — business, engineering, medicine, aerospace, optics, transportation and manufacturing to name just a few.”

The former congressman said that when Mercedes was considering sites for its American plant, most believed the state had a “ghost of a chance.”

Alabama is now also home to plants for Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and their suppliers. The state's automotive industry now employs about 55,000, Bonner estimated.

“That's transformational,” Bonner said.

With echoes of statements by Gov. Robert Bentley and other state leaders, Bonner envisions aerospace as the state's next boom.

Bonner said he believes economic development will be led by the state and local teams and that the UA system will be able to complement the efforts. Bonner sees himself working with company presidents and local and state teams on economic development projects.

“I think there will be numerous opportunities to have a seat at the table, to be a catalyst for those companies to make a decision to come to Alabama,” Bonner said.

Bonner used the example of a meeting on Aug. 22 with a small town, whose identity he withheld, which is trying to recruit an international company.

“One of the things I was able to bring to the table in my new role is knowing three colleges at UA that could help sway the balance. That became a value-add to this,” he said.

The new vice chancellor used the example of the expertise and facilities contained in UA's science and engineering complexes as resources that could help sell the potential of Alabama as a home for companies in aerospace or other emerging industries.

“I really do think there are some tremendous opportunities to integrate the talents and assets of the University of Alabama System,” Bonner said. “It's going to be a tremendous benefit for this area growing opportunities for the next 20 to 30 years.”

Bonner said the economic development responsibilities of the post were “extremely appealing” when he talked with Witt about the position in April.

Bonner said the April call came unexpectedly.

“They threw me somewhat of a curve ball,” Bonner said. “I wasn't looking to leave. I wasn't putting my name out there. I wasn't asking for a new job.”

Bonner was first elected to the U.S. House in 2003 and was unopposed during the 2012 general election after winning a contested Republican primary.

Bonner said he discussed the opportunity with his family.

“It became even in that brief time something intriguing, because I saw opportunities to continue to serve the state and economic development,” he said.

The position also held appeal because it meant he could be closer to home and his family in Alabama.

“The opportunity to spend even more time with them was a personal attraction,” Bonner said.

<p>Former U.S. Congressman Jo Bonner envisions his new role as the vice chancellor for government relations and economic development at the University of Alabama System as nothing new for the system or himself.</p><p>“In many ways, I find myself doing what I have always done and that is connecting people to people,” Bonner said. </p><p>Bonner, who joined the UA System staff on Aug. 16 in the recently created vice chancellorship position, offered the example of former UA System Chancellor Malcolm Portera's involvement in the recruitment of Mercedes-Benz in the early 1990s as a template for his role in economic development.</p><p>Bonner, who resigned from the U.S. House on Aug. 2 to take the system job, said he would build on the work of Bill Jones, who retired as director of government relations for the system in the spring. </p><p>UA System Chancellor Robert Witt said Bonner's first priority will be lobbying for the system in Montgomery, but he believes the former congressman's economic development responsibilities will dovetail seamlessly with the government relations responsibilities.</p><p>Witt said the system decided to formally add economic development as a responsibility of the position following the retirement of Jones. Witt said the additional responsibilities of the new role merited an elevation from a directorship to a vice chancellorship. Bonner's annual salary will be $350,000.</p><p>Witt said Bonner, the brother of UA President Judy Bonner, had an ideal mix of skills, experience and perspective for the dual roles. </p><p>“A native son of Alabama, he knows how to advocate persuasively with elected officials and sell the merits of our state to global audiences. We are delighted to have him on board,” Witt wrote in an email.</p><p>Witt did not comment on whether other candidates for the job were considered and what qualifications the system sought in the candidates. </p><p>“Looking forward, our goal is to help Alabama continue to grow by partnering with public and private entities to attract new industry, help existing businesses flourish in the 21st century, and add new high-wage jobs,” Witt wrote in the email. “The stronger Alabama's economy becomes, the better our state will be able to support education, so it's a win-win all around.”</p><p>Bonner said he believed there was a direct correlation between the health of the system and the health of the state, adding the UA System had an approximate $5 billion impact on Alabama's economy.</p><p>Witt cast economic development as a standing interest for the system. </p><p>“Innovative and successful economic development projects are a long-standing priority for our three campuses,” Witt wrote. “Our faculty members in Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa are at the forefront of job creation, industrial recruitment and retention in wide-ranging areas — business, engineering, medicine, aerospace, optics, transportation and manufacturing to name just a few.”</p><p>The former congressman said that when Mercedes was considering sites for its American plant, most believed the state had a “ghost of a chance.”</p><p>Alabama is now also home to plants for Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and their suppliers. The state's automotive industry now employs about 55,000, Bonner estimated.</p><p>“That's transformational,” Bonner said. </p><p>With echoes of statements by Gov. Robert Bentley and other state leaders, Bonner envisions aerospace as the state's next boom. </p><p>Bonner said he believes economic development will be led by the state and local teams and that the UA system will be able to complement the efforts. Bonner sees himself working with company presidents and local and state teams on economic development projects.</p><p>“I think there will be numerous opportunities to have a seat at the table, to be a catalyst for those companies to make a decision to come to Alabama,” Bonner said.</p><p>Bonner used the example of a meeting on Aug. 22 with a small town, whose identity he withheld, which is trying to recruit an international company. </p><p>“One of the things I was able to bring to the table in my new role is knowing three colleges at UA that could help sway the balance. That became a value-add to this,” he said. </p><p>The new vice chancellor used the example of the expertise and facilities contained in UA's science and engineering complexes as resources that could help sell the potential of Alabama as a home for companies in aerospace or other emerging industries.</p><p> “I really do think there are some tremendous opportunities to integrate the talents and assets of the University of Alabama System,” Bonner said. “It's going to be a tremendous benefit for this area growing opportunities for the next 20 to 30 years.”</p><p>Bonner said the economic development responsibilities of the post were “extremely appealing” when he talked with Witt about the position in April. </p><p>Bonner said the April call came unexpectedly.</p><p>“They threw me somewhat of a curve ball,” Bonner said. “I wasn't looking to leave. I wasn't putting my name out there. I wasn't asking for a new job.” </p><p>Bonner was first elected to the U.S. House in 2003 and was unopposed during the 2012 general election after winning a contested Republican primary. </p><p>Bonner said he discussed the opportunity with his family.</p><p>“It became even in that brief time something intriguing, because I saw opportunities to continue to serve the state and economic development,” he said. </p><p>The position also held appeal because it meant he could be closer to home and his family in Alabama. </p><p>“The opportunity to spend even more time with them was a personal attraction,” Bonner said. </p><p>Reach Ed Enoch at ed.enoch@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.</p>